My Brother.

Chapter 4. Our birthday.

It's Saturday and my 16th birthday, Eli's aswell because we're twins.
I had been dreading this day but now it's come around and knowing I get to see Clara later,I'm actually looking forward to it,and im going to try and embrace today with a positive attitude. I've done my skincare routine,put my hair in a pretty pink bow and worn my pink baby doll dress today,Clara is going to love the look, I put some gloss over my lips and mascara on but didn't bother with any other makeup as I'm not very good at it. I took some pictures I liked of my outfit smiling in them all with confidence and genuine content, it feels like I woke up on the right side of the bed today.

With it being a Saturday there's no school so I've taken my time getting ready and don't have to rush my breakfast, I make my way downstairs and see my brother Eli on the couch,he's dressed to go out and is playing some game on the xbox,I think it's an ea game, he's so encapsulated in his game he doesn't see me. I walk over to the kitchen where my dad is whipping up some sweet smelling blueberry pancakes. "That smells good!", he turns to me "happy birthday! It's a birthday breakfast for you and your brother,I cant believe your both 16 today" he shakes his head in disbelief "time flies so quickly" he smiles. I grab a cartoon of orange juice from the fridge and pour myself a glass "do you want any dad?" I ask he shakes his head and starts pouring the pancake mixture onto the pan,the sound of sizzling commences.
Sitting at the table and drinking my juice I notice mum isn't around, I'm guessing she's in bed still. "Happy birthday Eli! My boy" Dad rejoices as Eli walks into the kitchen and takes a seat next to me. "Thanks dad, happy birthday sis" Eli smiles at me and dad, "thanks" I moan looking at my hand which is still throbbing with pain at any movement. "Aren't you gonna say it back? That's rude yknow" Eli elbows me waiting for a response, "happy birthday to you too?" I reply back irritated but trying not to show it, I don't want to be rude. "Bluberry pancakes for you lady" Dad impersonates a queen as he speaks bowing down to me with a plate of blueberry pancakes, I laugh and smile at his gestures "thank you" I smile graciously taking my plate from his hands and placing it infront of me. " and blueberry pancakes for you sir" Dad bows to Eli the same and they both laugh.
I start chopping my pancakes and eating the fluffy discs and Eli does the same. "Happy birthday kids! Sorry about last night" mum comes into the room in her nightgown, her face is drooping with tiredness and her eyes have dark circles around them, she gives Eli a kiss on the cheek and then me before waddling to dad who's crosses his arms and rolls his eyes as she starts talking to him. I finish my breakfast and as I stand up with my plate dad takes it from me "no washing up for you until your hand has healed", I nod and leave the kitchen taking out my phone and sitting on the couch.

I look at the post I posted earlier and notice a new follower and a comment, it's Jessie from the school musical,the student who recently joined. I follow him back and read his comment, pretty in pink he wrote, I smile at his comment and feel myself blush a little.
So focused into my phone I didn't notice Eli walk into the room until I hear him flop next to me on the couch "what are you smiling at?" He asks as he picks up the controller for the xbox and starts mashing keys again. "It's nothing" I feel a little embarrassed to be blushing at a comment and don't want to tell him, he tries to peak over my shoulder "no. I asked what,what is it your smiling about?" Eli demands scooting closer to me trying to look over my shoulder at my phone. I hold my phone further away and try and cover my screen "it's just a comment!" I say. Eli relaxes and sits back concentrating back on his game "well,why didn't you just say that" he mutters shaking his head and beading his eyes at the tv screen. I look at him with fear, he hurt my hand badly yesterday and started getting a bit aggressive again over me smiling at a comment, I'm scared of him and I'm NOT letting him ruin my birthday. I scroll some more on my phone replying to happy birthday messages. And then dad and mum walk in with presents and cards for me and Eli.

After unwrapping cards from the cousins we never see and great great grandmother's I thought were dead we start unwrapping presents. I unwrap a super fluffy pink blanket that I snuggle my head into after hugging mum thanks, Eli unwraps the new pair of trainers he wanted from dad, I unwrap a pair of butterfly earrings from dad and Eli unwraps a baseball glove from mum. Me and Eli both thank our parents and then I head up to my room to put away my earings and lay my fluffy pink blanket out on my bed. Perfect! I think when I inspect my neat perfect pink room. I take out my new earrings and start to apply them in my mirror, then there's a knock on my door.

"Hello?" I question as I push the last earing into my ear tightening the back and then going towards my door,before I can open it Eli walks in with a smug look on his face and a small wrapped gift in his hand, he closes the door as he comes further into my room meeting me at the dresser. "What do you want Eli?" I tread backwards to give myself some space as he gets closer to me. "I wanted to give you your present,from me" he smiles looking pleased with himself and pushes forward the neatly wrapped present. I awkwardly take the gift out of his hand and unwrap it as he eagerly waits for my reaction. I can't quite make out what it is until I dangle the thing infront of me and can see, it's a pink thong. I stare shunned in silence. Eli stares back at me still smiling and waiting for me to respond. I throw the thong towards him and walk backwards to create some distance. Was this a sick joke? Is he serious? Disgust riddles my face as I stare at him "Eli, what the fuck?" I snap, his smiles fades as he look at gift and then at me, he turns around and rubs his hand against his forehead before turning back to me "I gave you a gift. And you swear at me." He doesn't shout but is stern as anger grows his voice "I was being nice and you, throw it in my face" he starts to march towards me and I think about the glass yesterday as I dodge out his way "Eli im sorry now can you please leave!" I plead with him and then he grabs my hair and I moan ow,ow,ow as he pulls me towards him and then let's go of my hair but throws his arms around me tightly,I cant escape.
He pushes my head down on his shoulder and I start to cry with frustration and confusion.
Eli rocks me back and forth like a baby, his grip too tight to escape from "shhh,shhh,shh, it's okay. I'll look after you,I'll always look after you sis" eli whispers in my ear,I feel tears roll of my cheek and onto his shirt,why is he doing this?."Eli,please leave" I whimper through tears. "Shh,shh,it's okay. I told you'd I'd make up for yesterday, so I won't be mad at you for being so ungrateful for the present I gave you" he continues rocking me as I cry.
"Eli,my hand hurts could you please let go" I cry trying to wriggle out of his grip, to my surprise he loosens his grip plants a kiss on my forehead and then leaves, as soon as the door closes behind him I fall to the floor in shock,disgust and silently crying out my soul into puddles on my bedroom floor. I cover my mouth with my hand to hide the sounds,I don't want Eli to hear me and come back in, my eyes quiver rivers down my face as I curl into a fetal position and lay on the floor,feeling dead.
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I've arrived at Claras for our sleepover,I washed off all my makeup before I came,mostly because I'd cried off my mascara but also because I was hoping Clara could do my makeup, we've instead ended up watching a scary movie, the conjuring 2, I think I have enough fear in my life but Clara had purchased it for us specially so I couldn't say no. We've got some strawberries and melted chocolate to dip them in and we've both already applied face masks. I went for the revitalising cucumber mask and Clara chose the exfoliating spices mask, we both look like glowing aliens watching the film.

I told Clara what my parents gave me for my birthday and then she pulled out a gift for me, wrapped in shiny sliver metallic paper "open it!" I tear the paper feeling my injured hand start to burn as I do and then see an artbook with some paints and pencils, "thank you so much Clara,this is a whole kit and so sweet,I'll paint something beautiful for you", we hug and then she looks towards my hand "what happened?" She hadn't noticed the adhesive pad before. I look towards my hand and think to myself,honestly I'm not sure what happened for Eli to do this to me "Eli-" I stop myself when i remember the way Eli reacted to the shoving incident and the way he so easily convinced mum and dad it was my clumsy fault and then default to "I was washing up and my clumsy hands dropped a glass" I stare at the floor in defeat as I tell the lie. Clara looks hesitant to believe me but then just shrugs it off "okay".